The Dark Star

"All they had to do was to touch at some dock, go ashore, and

telegraph to their men here," said the Princess.

"That, evidently, is what they did," admitted Neeland ruefully.

"Certainly. And by this time they may be here, too. They could do

it. I haven't any doubt that Breslau, Kestner, and Ilse Dumont are

here in Paris at this moment."

"Then I'll wager I know where they are!"

"Where?"

"In the Hôtel des Bulgars, rue Vilna. That's where they are to operate

a gaming house. That is where they expect to pluck and fleece the

callow and the aged who may have anything of political importance

about them worth stealing. That is their plan. Agents, officials,

employees of all consulates, legations, and embassies are what they're

really after. I heard them discussing it there in the train today."

The Princess had fallen very silent, musing, watching Neeland's

animated face as he detailed his knowledge of what had occurred.

"Why not notify the police?" he added. "There might be a chance to

recover the box and the papers."

The Princess shook her pretty head.

"We have to be very careful how we use the police, James. It seems

simple, but it is not. I can't explain the reasons, but we usually pit

spy against spy, and keep very clear of the police. Otherwise," she

added, smiling, "there would be the deuce to pay among the embassies

and legations." She added: "It's a most depressing situation; I don't

exactly know what to do.... I have letters to write, anyway----"

She rose, turned to Rue and took both her hands: "No; you must go back to New York and to your painting and music if

there is to be war in Europe. But you have had a taste of what goes on

in certain circles here; you have seen what a chain of consequences

ensue from a chance remark of a young girl at a dinner table."

"Yes."

"It's amusing, isn't it? A careless and innocent word to that old

busybody, Ahmed Mirka Pasha, at my table--that began it. Then another

word to Izzet Bey. And I had scarcely time to realise what had

happened--barely time to telegraph James in New York--before their

entire underground machinery was set in motion to seize those wretched

papers in Brookhollow!"

Neeland said: "You don't know even yet, Princess, how amazingly fast that machinery

worked."

"Tell me now, James. I have time enough to write my warning since it

is already too late." And she seated herself on the sofa and drew

Ruhannah down beside her.

"Listen, dear," she said with pretty mockery, "here is a most worthy

young man who is simply dying to let us know how picturesque a man can

be when he tries to."

Neeland laughed: "The only trouble with me," he retorted, "is that I've a rather

hopeless habit of telling the truth. Otherwise there'd be some chance

for me as a hero in what I'm going to tell you."